Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Washington D.C..
- Founded: 1969 (as the Montreal Expos, a National League expansion franchise).
- First Season: 2005 (first season as Washington Nationals)
- Home Ballparks: Jarry Park, Montréal (capacity 28,456) 1969–1976; Stade Olympique (Olympic Stadium), Montréal (capacity 43,739 for baseball) 1977–2004; RFK Stadium, Washington (capacity TBD pending renovations) 2005–present.
- Uniform Colors: Red, White and Blue, with Gold trim in their primary logo design.
- Logo Design: A shield featuring "Washington" in a ribbon device over "Nationals" in a hard-block font, both superimposed over a baseball flanked by 9 stars, representing the 9 defensive players of a baseball team.
- Official Mascot: Not determined, but rumors have circulated that it will be a bug called "Nat."
- Division Titles Won: 1981, 1994 (both as Montreal Expos).
- National League Championships: None.
- World Series Championships: None.
Franchise history
The Montreal Expos were enfranchised to play in the National League beginning in 1969. Despite varied levels of success on the field, the franchise's relationship with its fans was permanently damaged by the 1994 players' strike. Following nearly a decade in which the team underwent several ownership changes, attendance and overall interest in the team dwindled, Major League Baseball acquired the club (operating as a separate partnership called Baseball Expos, LP) with the intent of contracting it along with the Minnesota Twins.
The concept of contracting the Twins and Expos died, however, when the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement. After a prolonged period of negotiation, in September 2004 MLB announced the team would be relocated to Washington D.C. for the 2005 season.
The move was announced despite opposition from Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos. Since 1972, the Orioles have been the sole MLB franchise in the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. However, a deal is being negotiated to protect the Orioles against any financial harm the Nationals might present to the Baltimore market. (Washington is approximately 35 miles south of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where the Orioles have played their home games since 1992.)
The move remains contingent on approval of funds for a new stadium by the Washington City Council. Until said stadium is completed, the team will play in RFK Stadium, which will be partially renovated for the 2005 season.
Moving process incomplete
Despite various announcements regarding the move and MLB officials going forward with plans to field the team in Washington for 2005, the process remains incomplete. The team's relocation remains contingent on a financing plan for the Nationals' stadium — a plan put in jeopardy on November 5, 2004 when the chair of the District of Columbia City Council proposed that the new ballpark be built next to RFK Stadium instead of at a site near the Anacostia in Southeast DC.
The ballpark proposal is controversial; many city residents oppose government subsidies for a multi-billion-dollar private business and would prefer the land and money to focus on schools rather than a ballpark. Three Council members who supported Williams' plan were ousted in September's Democratic primary. An opinion poll conducted by the Washington Post found that approximately two-thirds of District residents oppose the mayor's stadium plan.
Washington's baseball history
Washington has previously had two failed franchises in modern baseball, both known as the Washington Senators. There were, however, older Washington teams in now-defunct leagues named the Washington Nationals, and the original Washington Senators were also named the Nationals from 1901 to 1956. The name "Washington Senators" is presently the intellectual property of the Texas Rangers, who had previously operated under that name from 1961 to 1971. The original Senators were renamed the Minnesota Twins in 1961.
It is anticipated that the team will continue to play in the East Division of the National League, as opposed to the American League, where the nearby Baltimore Orioles currently reside.
Minor league affiliates
- New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA, Pacific Coast League)
- Harrisburg Senators (AA, Eastern League)
- Potomac Cannons (High-A, Carolina League)
- Savannah Sand Gnats (A, South Atlantic League)
- Vermont Expos (Short-Season A, New York-Penn League)
- GCL Expos (Rookie, Gulf Coast League)
External links
- Official Washington Nationals website (http://www.nationals.com)
- Expos New Name: Nationals (TSN) (http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?ID=105200&hubName=mlb)